Cigar lighter



Dec. 7, 1937. J. SINKO 2,101,601

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Jan. 16, 1935 m-"mm Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITEDSTATESJ'VPATENT- oFFI ca John Sinko, Chicago, Ill. I Application January16,1935, Serial No. 2,087

20 Claims.

My invention relates to cigar lighters and has to do more particularlywith electric lighters of the character used' on automobiles having aremovable lighter unit for lighting cigars, cigarettes, and the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved andsimplified device of the above character made up in units which may bereadily assembled to produce a complete lighter.

Various features of my invention will be more particularly pointed outin the specification and appended claims.

For a better understanding of my invention reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, but with the translucent cap of thelighter unit removed.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showingthe parts enlarged and with the translucent cap in place.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the spring actuated restoring unit removedfrom the lighter unit.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a disassembled view of the elements of the restoring unit ofFig. 4 with the parts shown in perspective.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the igniter element.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a disassembled view of the parts of the base or holder shownin perspective.

In general it might be stated that the device is of the wireless type inwhich the lighter unit or head is removably held on the base or holderand adapted to be bodily pressed inwardly to close the circuit for theigniter unit, and when the hand pressure is relieved the lighter unitrestores to its normal position opening the lighter circuit, and theunit may then be removed from the base for lighting a cigar or the like.

Referring now more in detail to the preferred construction employed, Iprovide a tubular body A of a heat resisting insulating material, with acentral hub I disposed intermediate the ends of the body A and havingradially extending arms 2 with the hub and arms preferably cast with thetubular portion A to form an integral structure. The arm structure thusprovides light passages as 3, through which the light from the glowingigniter element may pass upwardly translucent window 4 held in a metalring 5 removably pressed into the upper or outer end of the body A andfrictionally held therein.

This central hub I is adapted to support the igniting element shown inFigs. 7 and 8 and the spring actuated restoring unit of Figs. 4 and 5 asindicated in Fig. 3, the restoring unit of Fig. 4 also serving as aholding ring adapted to friction- 5 ally engage a supporting base. Thisrestoring unit is preferably made up as a self-contained unit includingan inner ring or sleeve 6 having a flanged end 1 and a plurality offriction seccated in Fig. 3. A small depressed portion I serves toefiect a more positive electrical contact ring H fits inside turnedflange l3 of the other ring to prevent separation of the parts from theaction of spring II. An upper abutment for the spring H is provided bythe plate l5 which is secured to the inner ring i I by a pair of ears l6which fold down underneath the central hub I! of the ring H as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5, and also as pair of cars iii arecentral hub l of the body align the openings l920with the light passagesor openings 3 in the body A so that the light may pass directly up tothe translucent cap. In assembling the restoring unit of Figs. 4 and 5,the spring I is placed around the holding ring 6 and the inner ring llslipped up inside of the holding ring 6 after which the top flange orabutting top of the inner ring II and the ears l6 folded underneath thecentral hub I! of the inner ring with the two rings 6 and II holding thespring H under compression. Thus with the restoring unit assembled asshown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the use of the fiat restoring spring ll, thetubular wall portion of this restoring unit is comparatively thin andthus takes less space in the lighter head.

The igniting element as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 includes a cup-likeholder 23 with light passages 24 in its upper face and having asupporting stud passing through a central opening in the cup 23 which islarge enough to keep the stud 25 from making electrical contact with thecup 23 as indicated in Fig. 3. A spiral lighter ribbon 29 is placedwithin the cup 23, being connected at its inner end in the slotted endof the stud 25 and with its outer end electrically connected with theouter rim of the cup 23 preferably by being welded thereto. Thus Iprovide a self-contained igniter element which may be secured to the hubof the body A by the fastening stud 25 which also passes through thecentral opening of the restoring unit of Figs. 4 and 5 so as to clampthis restoring unit against the central hub I.

In assembling the body A, igniter unit, and restoring unit, therestoring unit is first pressed up into the body so that the lightopenings |92|l and 3 register, after which the fastening stud of theigniter unit is passed up through the central openings and the partsclamped together by nut 30.

Referring now to the base or holder, I provide a clamp or bracket formedup of sheet metal having its front leg 32 provided with a boss 33 formedup out of the metal with a slot 34 extending from the center of the bossto the point 35 in the clamp to carry a conductor away from the centerterminal. This boss 33 acts to receive the cupped end 36 of a holdingtube or sleeve 31 which is adapted to be inserted into the hold- Fig. 4telescope.

ing ring 6 of the lighter unit.

A cupped escutcheon 38 has its central annular flange 39 clamped betweenthe base of the sleeve 31 and the leg 32 of the clamp. A contact cup 40,adapted to make contact with the rim 23 of the igniting unit cup isinsulatingly secured to the base by means'of a rivet 4| passing throughthe hole 42 of the clamp, which hole is large enough to clear the shankof the rivet so as. to prevent electrical contact between the rivet andclamp. An insulating disc 43 of mica is interposed between the contactcup 4|] and cup 36 of the holding sleeve and an insulating washer 44interposed between the cupped portion 33 of the clamp andthe washer 45to insulate the contact cup and stud 4| from the base. A short conductoris preferably permanently attached to the base by having its end clampedagainst the stud 4| so as to provide a terminal for connecting theungrounded terminal of a batteryto the device.

In assembling the base, the cupped end of the holding ring 31 is placedagainst the base, after which the cup .40, washers 43-44, conductorterminal 46 and washer 45 are all clamped together by the rivet 4|.

In the operation of the device, and assuming the lighter unit A is inplace on the base as shown in Fig. 3, with one terminal of the batteryconnected to conductor 46 and the other grounded to the frame of the carand thus to.the clamp 32. When pressure is applied against the outer endof A it is moved downwardly against the tension of spring M as the partsof the restoring unit of This downward pressure brings the rim of theigniter element cup 23 in contact with therim of the base cup 40,thereby closing a circuit through the heater element 29 extending frombattery terminal 46, stud 4|, cup 40, cup 23, through the heatingelement 29, then through the central stud 25 to the parts of therestoring units (Fig. 4) the base holding sleeve 31, to the groundedframe through the clamp 32.

As the lighting element comes to incandescence the light rays extendupwardly through the light passage 2|l|9 of the restoring unit andthrough the light passages 3 of the supporting spider, and up throughthe cap 4. By now relieving the pressure on the lighter unit A, spring|4 forces the unit A upwardly to interrupt the circuit through thelighter element and the unit A may then be withdrawn from the base foruse.

To replace the igniting element, the top cap 4 is removed, and the nut30 removed, whereupon the lighter element may be withdrawn from thedevice and replaced by a new one.

I claim:

1. In a cigar lighter, a removable lighter unit comprising an integraltubular body of insulating material, a hub permanently supported byradially extending arms inside said body intermediate the ends, anigniting element having a stud extending through said hub for removablysupporting the element in the hub in one end of the body, and a unitsupporting ring inside the body surrounding the element and clampedbetween said element and hub.

2. In a cigar lighter, a removable lighter unit comprising an integraltubular body of insulating material, a hub permanently supported byradially extending arms inside said body intermediate the ends, anigniting element having a stud extending through said hub forremovablysupport ing the element in the hub in one end of the body, aunit supporting ring inside the bodysurrounding the element and clampedbetween said element and hub, said supporting ring comprising a pair oftelescopically sliding collars and a spring surrounding one of saidcollars with means whereby said collars are held normally telescopicallyextended by said spring, and a base adapted to receive one of thecollars as a removable support for the unit.

3. In a cigar lighter, a removable lighter unit comprising an integraltubular body of insulating material, a hub permanently supported byradially extending arms inside said body intermediate its ends, anigniting element having a stud extending through said hub for removablysupporting the element in the hub in one end of the body, a unitsupporting ring inside the body surrounding the element and clampedbetween said element and hub, said supporting ring comprising a pair oftelescopically sliding collars and a. spring surrounding one of saidcollars with means whereby said collars are held normally telescopicallyextended by said spring, a base adapted to receive one of the collars asa removable support for the unit, and a contact element in the baseadapted to be engaged by the igniting element to complete a.

circuit through the element by hand pressure on the unit against tensionof the' spring.

4.In a cigar lighter, a removable lighter unit comprising a tubular bodyof insulating material, having an integral inner hub supportedintermediate the body ends with light conducting openings surroundingthe hub, an igniting element supported inside one end of the body bysaid hub and formed to pass light rays therefrom, through said openingstoward the other end of the body, a translucent cap for said latter endof the body, and means within the igniting end of the body for removablysupporting the body on a base.

5. In a cigar lighter, a removable lighter unit comprising a castintegral tubular body of insulating material, a fastening hub of likeinsulating material including radially extending supporting arms, saidhub being held by said arms and positioned inside said body intermediateits ends, an igniting element having a stud extending through said hubfor supporting said element in one end of the body, and a unitsupporting ring inside the body at the element and clamped between theigniting element and hub.

6. In a cigar lighter, a removable lighter unit comprising a castintegral tubular body of insulating material. a fastening hub of likeinsulating material including radially extending supporting am, said hubbeing held by said arms and positioned inside said body intermediate itsends, an igniting element having a stud extending through said hub forsupporting said element in one end of the body, and a unit supportingring inside the body surrounding the igniting element and attached tothe fastening hub.

7. In a cigar lighter, a springactuated restoring and holding unitiorinsertion in'a removable lighter unit comprising an outer tubularholding sleeve having an outwardly extending annular flange at one endand an inwardly extending annular flange at the other end, an innertubular sleeve telescopically slidingly positioned in the outer sleeveand having an outwardly extending annular flange inside the outersleevefor engaging 'the'inner flange of the outer sleeve to limit the relativemovement of the sleeves, a cap plate secured to the outer end of theinner sleeve to provide an outwardly extending flange, and-a springsurrounding the outer sleeve between the cap plate flange and outerflange of the outer sleeve tending to yieldingly hold the sleevesextended.

8. A spring actuated holding unit as called for in claim 7 in which theouter or holding sleeve has a plurality of yielding strips formed in itswall by cutting out paired slots in the wall and each strip having asmall depression in its outer face to form a slightly inwardly extendingcontact making tit. 9. In a cigar lighter, a base for porting a lighterunit, said base comprising a sheet metal U-shaped clamp, one leg of saidclamp having a cupped portion formed therefrom,

a cup-like unit supporting tube having a cup snugly fit the clamp cuppedportion, an escutcheon surrounding the support-v ing tube and heldbetween the tube bottom and the clamp leg around the cupped portion, acontact element inside the supporting tube, and means including a studextending through all said elements for clamping said elements togetherand insulating the contact element from the supporting tube and clamp.-g

10. A device as called for in claim 9 in which a slot is provided insaid leg of the clamp extending from the wall of the cupped portion witha conductor secured to the stud inside the cupped portion and passingalong the slot to a point outside the clamp.

11. In a cigar lighter, a removable lighter unit comprising a tubularbody, a hub permanently supported by radially extending arms inside saidbody intermediate the ends, an igniting element having a stud extendingthrough said hub for removably supporting the element in the hub'in oneend of the body, and a unit supporting ring surrounding the element andclamped between said element and hub.

12. In a cigar lighter, a removable lighter unit comprising a tubularbody, a hub permanently supported by radially extending arms inside saidbody intermediate the ends, an igniting element having a stud extendingthrough said hub for re- --movably supporting the element in the hub inone end of the body, and a unit supporting ring surrounding the elementand interlocking therewith to prevent separation said element. g

13. In a cigar lighter, a removable lighter unit comprising a tubularbody having a permanently secured inner hub supported intermediate theremovably sup-' of said ring from body ends with light conductingopenings surrounding the hub, an igniting element supported inside oneend of the body by said hub and formed to pass light rays therefrom,through said openings toward the other end of the body, a translucentcap for said latter end of the body, and means associated with theigniting end of the body for removably supporting the body on a base. i

14. In a cigar lighter, a removable lighter unit comprising a casttubular body having a permanently secured inner transverse wallpositioned intermediate the ends of the body providing a chamber in eachend of said body, said wall having light conducting passagestherethrough, an igniter element positioned in one end chamber of thebody and removably secured to said wall, said istering with the lightpassages in the wall to conduct light from the element to the other endchamber, a translucent cap for said latter chamber, and a frictionalholding device yieldingly mounted for bodily movement with respect tosaid cap within the first chamber and surrounding the igniterelement,.said holding device form- 'ing a contact for the unit adaptedto hold said unit on a stationary base member.

15. In a cigar lighter, a spring actuated restoring and holding unit forinsertion in a removable lighter unit'comprising an outer tubularholding sleeve having an outwardly extending flange at 'oneend and aninwardly extending flange at the other end, an inner tubular sleevetelescopically slidingly positioned in the outer sleeve and having anoutwardly extending flange inside the outer sleeve for engaging theinner flange of the outer sleeve to limit the relative movement ofthesleeves, a cap plate secured to the outer endof the inner sleeve toprovide an outwardly extending flange, and a spring surrounding theouter sleeve between the cap plate flange and outer flange of the outersleeve tending to yieldingly hold the sleeves extended.

16. In a cigar lighter, a base for removably supporting a lighter unit,said base comprising a sheet metal clamp having a' cupped portion formedtherefrom, a cup-like unit supporting tube having a cup formed bottom tosnugly fit the clamp cupped portion, and means including a studextending through all said elements for clamping said elements togetherand insulating the contact/element from the supporting tube and clamp.

17. In a cigar lighter, a removable lighter unit comprising a casttubular body having a permanently secured inner transverse wallpositioned intermediate the ends of the body. providing a chamber ineach end of the body, said wall having light conducting passagesthereend chamber of the body and removably secured tov said wall by ascrew passing through said wall and connected to said igniter element,said element having an open back registering with the light passages inthe wall to conduct light from the element to the other end chamber, atranslucent cap for said latter chamber, and a holding device associatedwith the first chamber surrounding the igniter element.

18. A cigar lighter head adapted to be remov-' ably mounted on aterminal base having a fixed terminal sleeve, comprising: a tubular bodymember; an igniting member secured to the inner portion of said bodymember; and means for removably supporting said body member on saidelement having an open back regbase comprising an electrical contactsleeve telescopically mounted within said body and adapted to engageirictionally the outside of said terminal sleeve, and a springsubstantially coextensive in length with the contact sleeve and disposedbetween said contact sleeve and body side-wall so as to urge the contactsleeve forwardly. f

19. A cigar lighter head adapted to be removably mounted on a terminalbase having a fixed terminal sleeve, comprising: a tubular body member;an igniting member secured to the inher portion of said body member; andmeans for removably supporting said body member on said base membercom-prising an electrical contact sleeve provided at its outer end witha flange extending towardsthe wall of the body' member telescopicallymounted within said body and adapted to engage frictionally the outsideof said terminal sleeve, anda spring disposed between said contactsleeve and body side-wall so as to bear against said flange and beconcealed thereby. v s

. porting plate.

mower saidibody and adapted to engage irictionally the outside of saidbase sleeve; and a coiled compression spring substantially coextensivein length with the contact sleeve and disposed the side-wall of the bodymember and contact sleeve so as to urge said contact sleeve forwardlyand maintain its electrical connection with said supsome same; 26

